Intersection Creates Confusion(posted Oct 2) Confusion is a common word that motorists use to describe INDOT's reconfiguration of turn lanes at High School Road and Crawfordsville Road. The intersection has become more like a lane swap among motorists as they realize they need to hop lanes due to the lack of information and misinformation that is given. INDOT reconfigured the lanes in July that raised complaints among residents on the Speedway Yahoo Crime Watch email. The Speedway Navigator submitted photos to INDOT indicating the turn lanes signs were not changed to reflect reconfiguration. High School Road now has only one turn lane onto Crawfordsville Road by Hardees. INDOT moved that turn lane sign and painted lane guide lines, but the intersection still remains chaotic for drivers. Town Councilman Dean Farmer requested help from State Representative Phil Hinkle to see what he could do to get INDOT to improve the intersection. The five way signal light in the right hand lane for traffic coming from Clermont does not indicate the lane is right turn lane only. There is no warning for drivers coming to the intersection that the right lane is right turn only until they reach Crawfordsville Rd. INDOT Public Information Officer Will Wingfield said this reconfiguration is a short-term fix as part of the I-465 expansion. He said the initial plan was to work on this intersection after 38th Street. Based on the community meetings, INDOT was asked to change the schedule so it would not interfere with the IMS' Centennial celebration. This rescheduling required the short-term reconfiguration to be implemented because this intersection is expected to function as an alternative route as construction occurs on I-465. "The improvements were designed to prevent that traffic from causing lengthy backups," Wingfield said. Wingfield explained that INDOT Greenfield Office does not have any complaints recorded or emailed since The Speedway Navigator contacted him in August concerning the issue. Wingfield said INDOT plans to make changes to the overhead signs at the northbound and southbound approaches. However, he emphasized that it takes awhile for local traffic to adjust to the new lane patterns. He encouraged motorists to contact customer service at 232-5533 or indot@indot.in.gov if they have issues. |
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